Sculpture: Weakly reticulate, numerous radial raised lines dominant over numerous comarginal ridges; sculpture more prominent on the smaller right valve. Margin: Inner margin of larger left valve weakly crenulate adjacent to a submarginal groove; right valve smooth. Ligament: Duplivincular, chevrons developing from the posterior of the dorsal area. Hinge: Taxodont, teeth in two series set on a gently curved hinge plate, anterior set with up to 5 teeth, posterior set up to 5; posterior teeth subparallel to dorsal margin anterior teeth oblique. Pallial Musculature: Anterior adductor scar slightly smaller than posterior. Periostracum: Of fragile, pale straw coloured, very short bristles. Colour: White.

Distribution

Plate 1

Plate 2

Plate 3

Plate 4

Plate 5

Plate 1Plate 2Plate 3Plate 4Plate 5

Distribution & Ecology

Attached by a narrow, stalked byssus to small stones and gravel. Mostly found at the shelf edge and upper slope but also on the outer shelf. Along the entire western seaboard and outer shelf areas off Shetland and the Hebrides.

Juveniles & Similar Species

Juvenile Description

Key Features & Similar SpeciesMost similar in shape to Bathyarca frielei but that species has an almost smooth and hyaline shell. B. philippiana has a coarser sculpture and is proportionately more elongate with a stronger byssal sulcus.

References

Oliver G & Allen J A 1980. The Functional and Adaptive Morphology of the Deep-Sea Species of the Arcacea (Mollusca: Bivalvia) from the Atlantic. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B.291: 45-76.

Resources

MarLIN
The Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland (MarLIN) provides information for marine environmental management, protection and education. It is a centre of excellence in spatially based and time-series marine biological information and supports good stewardship in the marine environment.

NBN Gateway
National Biodiversity Network's Gateway. Use it to explore UK biodiversity data, as contributed by participating data providers.

MarBEFMarBEF, a network of excellence funded by the European Union and consisting of 94 European marine institutes, is a platform to integrate and disseminate knowledge and expertise on marine biodiversity, with links to researchers, industry, stakeholders and the general public.